Title:
White Dust From Mongolia (film)
Creator:
Cha, Theresa Hak Kyung
Subject:
Cha Collection
Films
Description:
"White Dust From Mongolia" is a project by Theresa including a film and artist book. Neither were completed. Theresa and
James visited Korea in 1980 for 3 months, May-July. While in Korea they filmed "White Dust From Mongolia." James Cha shot
the footage. The footage includes shots of Seoul, rooftops, a women's university, train station near the University, forest,
market, the Secret Palace, airplane ride in amusement park, and hotel fire. The film scenario for
"White Dust From Mongolia" suggests Cha intended to edit the footage shot in Korea and add additional images and text. See
museum# 1992.4.22/81-96/104/281
Comments from Bernadette Cha (Theresa's sister) upon viewing the film: Theresa and James stayed at the women's university.
Aunt was a music teacher at Univ. They shot poorer areas first. Train was how northerners traveled during Japanese occupation
and how Cha's parents left Manchuria. Parents lived in Manchuria where displaced Koreans lived in China during Japanese occupation.
Manchurian Koreans vs Koreans. Seoul vs Manchuria. Seoul - modern vs Manchuria - harsh environment. Cha experienced end
of war. Modern Korea vs old Korea of her youth. Contrast old vs new. Born in Korea yet a foreigner. Airplane ride-humorous.
Korean men love rides. Fire is no safety, no laws. Buildings built with no safety. Earthiness of Korea. Set of imagination.
Open scenes anyone can relate to.
Publisher:
Berkeley Art Museum/Pacific Film Archive
Date:
1980
Type:
image
Format:
Film
16mm. 30 minutes. 24 frames per second?
Identifier:
1992.4.105